Tony Blackburn entered broadcasting as a DJ on the offshore 'pirate' radio stations. On 30 September 1967, he was the first voice to be heard on the new radio station, BBC Radio 1. His breezy banter coupled with a readily identifiable choice of jokes quickly made him a listeners' favourite.

In recent years, Blackburn has worked for a variety of stations, often championing his love for soul music. He currently presents programmes on KCFM and 102.2 Smooth Radio.

Audio

Tony Blackburn – Radio Caroline – August 1964

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Tony Blackburn – opening of BBC Radio 1 – September 1967

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Tony Blackburn – BBC Radio 1 – October 1970

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Tony Blackburn – Last BBC show – September 1984

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.